Improvement in brick-machines



a. R. WILSON & G. SMITHSUN.

Brick-Machine.

N 7 72 Patented Se -.14,1875.

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h L'Znesses: InventorsaMQ /-addw (Q W/ N- PETERS. PHOIaLITHOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON, D C,

UNITED STATES x lFl-LQ G GEORGE E. WILSON AND GEORGE SMITHSON, OF WASHINGTON, D. O.

IMPROVEMENT IN Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 167,720, dated September 14, 1875 application filed August 19, 1875.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, GEORGE E. WILsoN and GEORGE SMITHsoN, of the city of Washington, District of Columbia, have invented certain Improvements in Machines for Making Bricks of Clay, Goal-Dust, 850., for building, fuel, and other purposes, of which invention the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawing forming a part hereof.

As a machine for making bricks for building purposes thisinvention is designed to improve their manufacture by incorporating in the machine features which, in their operation and effect, nearly resemble the action and results of well-known expedients employed in the manufacture of brick by hand.

In the description of our invention which follows, due reference must be had to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is an elevation partly in section, and Fig. 2 a plan of the invention.

A is the bed-plate of the machine, having a central step, a, circular in form. Centrally of the bed-plate and step is a vertical axial shaft, B, secured to the bed-plate. The moldplate C is placed above the step a, and adapted to revolve around the axial shaft B by means of a large bevel-wheel, 12, secured under the said mold-plate at its periphery, and a bevelpinion, 0, upon the driving-shaft d. Resting upon the bed-plate are pillars e, which sustain a yoke, f, the center of which is enlarged and perforated, and surrounds the axial shaft B. The top of said shaft is increased in diameter, and forms a bearing, g, in which rest the ends of the two shafts H and H, the ends of which meet, as shown. The opposite endsof the shaftHH are supported in bearings 41 i, which extend up from the bed-plate. A rotary motion is imparted to the. shaft H from a spurpinion, it, upon the driving-shaft d, which pinion engages with a spur-wheel, 1, upon the said shaft H. The shaft H is driven in a reverse direction by the idler spur-pinion k, which engages a spur-wheel, l. The shaft upon which is the idler spur-pinion k also carries a bevel-pinion, c, which gears with the large bevel-wheel b. The mold-plate O is provided with the molds m of the area of the brick to be made, the molds having for their beds the plungers m, which have stems m passing through the mold-plate. The shafts H and H are, respectively, provided with rollers I and l,the' purpose of which is hereinafter described.

In the following description of the operation of the machine an explanation will be found of the parts thereof not yet alluded to. The

clay which has been suitably tempered is supplied to a hopper, the mouth of which is central of the machine, and having dischargepipes leading to the front of the rollers I I. The mold-plate is revolved at a speed of, say,

one'revolution per minute, motion at the same and that the motion of the roller around .a

horizontal axis is of a different character from that of the mold-plate, which turns around a vertical axis, the movements of the plate and roller coact to give akind of twist to the pressure exerted, clearing the brick from the surplus clay, preventing the brick rising in the mold, and insuring its exact formation. The moldplate continuing to revolve in the direction of the arrow, the surplus clay is swept from the face of the plate by the inclined knife or board a. Because of the revolution of the mold-plate, and the angle at which the yoke f, carrying the inclined knife or boards a, is placed with reference to the horizontal shafting, the efiect of the said board a upon the brick is similar to that produced in the manufacture of handmade brick by the use of the smearingboard, which, in the hands of the workman, is given a sort of horizontal swinging motion over the surface of the brick, the workman using one hand as a sort of pivot, around which the board is swung by the other hand. The tendency of this operation, as also that of the co-operative action of the mold-plate and roller, is to prevent the displacement of the clay in the mold by causing the pressure .to beputupon the brick gradually, and thus giving it the full shape of the mold and an even top for the lastand finishing operation, which is the following: As 'the revolution of the mold-plate continues, the brick in the mold is brought under the yoke f, the underface of i which perfectly coincides with the face of the.

mold-plate, and the stem of the plunger m comes in contact with a roller n causin the brick to be compressed between the plunger and the under side of the yoke, giving to the brick its final finish. The revolutionof the mold-plate proceeding, the stem m of the plunger is brought to an inclined plane, 0, cast upon the bed-plate, which operates to raise the plunger and brick,which is then 're- As the revolution} proceeds a descent in the projection 0 is reached, allowing the plunger to fall to its 1 lowest position in time for the mold to be filled moved from the machine.

again for another operation. Should the plunger fail to fall, as described, its descent is insured by a downward-inclined rib, 19, cast on the step a entering a groove, 0, cut in the plunger-stem. The capacity of the machine can be increased by adding to the number of I The capacity of the machine its rollers, &c. herein shown is, at a speed of the mold-plate .of one revolution per minute, seventy-two thousand bricks per day of ten hours, there We are aware th at plungers in mold-plates, and the methodof moving them vertically by inclined planes, are not new; and that the principle of forming brick by pressure in molds revolving around a vertical shaft is also not new; but,

What we claim as new,vand wish to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-- 1. The combination of the mold-plate 0, revolving around a vertical axis, with the rollers I l revolving around horizontal axes, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. The mold-plate 0, provided with plungers m having stems m and grooves 0, combined with the rollers I I and bed-plate A, having a step, a, inclined planes 0 and ribs 19,substantially as and forthe purposes herein specified.

3. The combination of the mold-plate O, yoke f, plungers and stems m m, and rollers. n, with the rollers I I revolviug'around horizontal axes, substantially as specified, and for the purposes set forth. 4. The mold-plate G and rollers I I, combined with the yoke f placed at an angle, as

described, and inclined knives or boards at, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.

In testimony whereof we havehereto subscribed our names this 18th day of August, 

